Improvement in mats



D.MHARMAN.

Improvement in Mats.

vPatented sep. 17, 1872.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL M. HARMAN, OF BALTEIORE, MARYLAND.

'^ IMPROVEMENT IN MATS.

Speccation forming part of Letters Patent No. 131,440, dated September 17, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, D. M. HARMAN, of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented an Improvement in the Manufacture of Mats, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description:

The object of my invention is to utilize the shavings of white -oak, hickory, and other suitable woods in the manufacture of mats, thereby producing a much cheaper article than when made of cocoa or ratan, and nearly equal to either in beauty and durability.

In order to enable others skilled inthe art to make and understand my invention, I will proceed to describe the exact manner in which I have carried it out; and reference is made to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, which is a perspective view of my invention.

I take the White-oak or hickory, or any other suitable timber, and cut from its surface thin slivers by means of suitable machinery. Green timber is preferable to seasoned, as steaming the slivers is unnecessary when the timber is green. These slivers are cut into strips of desirable length-say about six inches-and are then caught into bunches of half a dozen,

more or less, as may be desired, and woven into mats in the usual manner of weaving` shucks, cocoa, or ratan. This makes a very- The wooden shavings thus prepared :may

also be twisted and doubled into strands and be converted into a species ot' rope, or woven into matting or hailing` cloth. These strands may be braided by machinery and formed into mats.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

As a new article of manufacture, mats Inanufactured of slivers of wood, combined with a rope or other suitable backing, substantially as described.

DANIEL M. HARMAN.

Witnesses l. L. BRADFORD, E. WATTS. 

